Moving home is a big life change, even for us humans. There’s plenty to organise and lots to do, and it’s normally a noisy, chaotic and pretty stressful time. It’s equally stressful for our pets, who are used to their surroundings, neighbourhood and local animal mates so find moving unsettling. Plus, they can pick up on our stress and anxiety too.

Moving home can be difficult for our pets to understand and they need plenty of time to adjust to their new home. Here are some ways to help reassure and resettle your pet, before, during and after your move.

The best way to ensure your pet feels relaxed and happy about the upcoming move is to keep their feeding and exercising routine as normal as possible. This will give them a sense of security. Here are some other tips:

• • • Make a comfortable, quiet, safe spot for your pet to relax in while you’re packing - boxes and furniture moved to unfamiliar spots can be unsettling for your pet. Put their bed or crate in there so they’ve got a cosy spot to escape to if they’re feeling overwhelmed.
    • Get them familiar with their travel carrier. Leave it in their safe space, with the door open, so they can explore it and get used to it ahead of time. Stock it with a cuddly blanket, some tempting cat treats or dog treats and their favourite cat toy or dog toy to make it as appealing, and non-scary, as possible.
    • Avoid washing your pet’s bedding in the week leading up to the move (and for at least a week after the move). This ensures they’ve got familiar, comforting smells.
    • If you can, take your cat or dog to visit their new home so they can get used to the new smells and surroundings.
    • Consider the practicalities: does your new home have a cat or dog door? If not, you might need to buy one. If you’re moving regions, look into the pet ownership rules and sort out any licensing needed.
    • Make sure their tag’s contact information and microchip details are up to date.
    • You can also set up a room at your current and new place with a calming diffuser or spray to help you pet feel less stressed.

Even with the most amount of preparation possible, moving day is normally busy, noisy and a bit stressful! Pets can pick up on this so keep things stress-free by:

• • • Allocating a clean, empty, secure room for your cat. Fill it with their bed, food and water bowls, litter tray and plenty of toys. Put a sign on the door to let everyone know the cat’s in there so no one accidentally lets them out! Noise and disruption can cause cats to bolt for the door, and it can be tricky to find them again when it’s time to leave.
    • Knowing where your dog is, at all times. With open doors and movers coming in and out, it’s also easy for dogs to bolt outside. Either keep them in their own room (you know the drill: bed, crate, food and water bowls, and toys) or secure them in the garden. Check in with them regularly to make sure they’re comfortable and happy.
    • Packing your pet’s bedding, toys and other essentials until last so they’ve got them right up until you move. Keep the items that will travel with you, like favourite toys, treats and any medication. Clearly label your pet’s boxes so you can find them and get them settled into your new home quickly.
    • Not feeding them more than usual. Although your pets should always have access to fresh, clean water, try to stick to their normal feeding routine on moving day. Too much food can cause a stressed pet to vomit, wee or poo when travelling.
    • Using the pet carrier you’ve been preparing them for. Pet carriers are the best way to keep cats and small dogs safe while you’re travelling.

Once you’ve left your old home and are travelling, make sure you take plenty of water and toilet stops. If it’s a hot day, keep an eye on your cat or dog to avoid overheating.

Dogs normally adjust to a new home quicker than cats. New neighbourhoods mean new smells and new animals. It can take time for your pet to feel at home here, so be patient.

For dogs, start by taking them on a on-lead walk around your new home and garden. This gives you a good opportunity to check for any holes in the fencing, or broken panels, and that it’s high enough for them not to jump over. Once you know the garden is fully secure, you can let them off for a proper explore.

If you haven’t moved that far, cats can pick up on familiar scents and head back to your old home. To help avoid this, give your cat plenty of time to get used to your new home - this should be about 2-3 weeks. Then, once they’re feeling confident and comfortable, you can let them outside while you are home to keep an eye on them. Start slowly, with short supervised visits to the garden (a cat harness can be useful). Time their garden visits for just before meal times. That way, you can tempt them back inside with food.

Ensure your pets know where to find the cat or dog door and are able to use it to get in and out if you are allowing them to free roam your backyard without supervision.

Keep an eye on your pet in the days and weeks after a move. If you think they still seem stressed and anxious, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz